This document contains summaries and descriptions of various plant structures and processes observed under the microscope during a B.Sc. II spotting practical. It includes transverse sections of stems, roots, leaves and other plant parts as well as descriptions of cell division, pollen germination, ovule types, placentation patterns, inflorescence types and floral structures. Specific plant examples are provided for many structures to illustrate different anatomical features.

1. B.Sc. II Spotting
Slides and
specimens
2016-17
www.cmpcollege.com
e-learning section

2. Cell division: Mitosis metaphase

3. Cell division: Mitosis Anaphase

4. Ficus root T.S

5. T.S. Tinospora root

6. T.S. Orchid root

7. T.S. Nyctanthes stem

8. T.S. Boerhaavia stem

9. T.S. Stem Bignonia

10. T.S. Stem Dracaena

11. T.S. Stem Bougainvillea

12. T.S. Hydrilla Stem

13. T.S. Nymphaea petiole

14. T.S. Nerium Leaf

15. T.S. Cuscuta on
host
 It is a total stem parasite Cuscuta
reflexa belonging to family
Convolvulaceae
 The parasite is very long,
filamentous, branched, non-
chlorophyllous, pale yellow in
colour and bear scale leaves.
 It produce bunches of whitish or
yellowish bell shaped flowers.
 The parasite gets organic food,
minerals and water from the host
through some special absorbing
organs called haustoria.
 The haustoria are infact modified
adventitious roots which penetrate
up to the vascular tissue of host.

16. Germinating pollen grains
on stigma
 A number of pollen grain
show different stages of
germination on same stigma.
 The pollen grain absorbs
water and nutrient, swell up
and rupture at germ pores.
 The thin intine protudes out
through pore into slender
pollen tube.
 The pollen tube elongates
and tunnels it way through
the stylar canal.
 The nucleus and cytoplasm of
tube cell as well as generative
cell pass down the tube.

17. Pollinia of Calotropis
 The flower of Calotropis characterised
by the formation of pentangular
stigmatic disc called gynostegium. It
bears five stamens, the anthers of
which are bicelled and coherent with
the disc.
 All microspores of the pollen sac cling
together forming a ovoid; pendulous,
waxy mass of pollen called Pollenium
 The pollinia of Calotropis is paired
structure consisting of two sac like
pollinia joined together by means of
short stalk of caudicles to a dot like
gland, the corpusculum.

18. Anatropus ovule
Anatropous ovule:
 It is of the most common
occurrence more than
80% of angiosperm
family).
 In this ovule, the funicle is
long whole body of the
ovule is inverted, through
180°.
 As a result the micropyle
comes close to the funicle.
 Ex-Most common in
dicots and monocots,
 Ex Asteraceae,
Solanaceae.

19. Orthotropus ovule
Orthotropous
ovule:
It is atropous or
straight, where the
micropyle, chalaza and
the funiculus, all are in
the same line.
Ex- Cycas, Family
Polygonaceae and
Piperaceae.

20. Amphitropus ovule
Amphitropus ovule:
It is similar to
campylotropous, but in
this case the
nucellus/embryo-sac is
also bent like „horse
shoe‟
Ex- Family Alismaceae,

21. Circinotropus ovule
Circinotropous
ovule:
It is of a very rare
occurrence. Here the
body of the ovuyle is
bent through 360°, so
that it takes a one
complete turn.
(Micropyle, chalaza
and the nucellus are
all in same plane).
Ex-Opuntia

22. Mature anther w.m

23. T.S. Mature anther
The section show two lobes,
each containing two
microsporangia (pollen sac) filled
with microspores (pollen grains).
There is a vascular bundles in
between the two lobes.
The mature microsporangial
wall consists of epidermis and
endothecium.
The cells of endothecium
remain thin walled along the line
of dehiscense and form stomium.
The middle layer and tapetum
become disorganised to form a
nourishing fluid.
The two pollen chambers in
each lobe become fused due to
disorganization.
The pollen grain released out
through ruptured stomium.

24. Lillium ovary 2 nucleate
 The ovary is tricarpellary,
syncarpous and trilocular. There
are two ovules in each locule.
Placentation is axile.
The ovule is anatropous. Each
ovule is bitegmic and inverted
with its micropyle near hilum.
The nucellus encloses a large,
single- celled developing
embryosac.
The embryo-sac is 2- nucleate
(one towards the micropylar
end and is haploid and the other
towards chalazal end is triploid)

25. Lillium ovary tetra
nucleate
 The ovary is tricarpellary,
syncarpous and trilocular. There
are two ovules in each locule.
Placentation is axile.
The ovule is anatropous. Each
ovule is bitegmic and inverted
with its micropyle near hilum.
The nucellus encloses a large,
single- celled developing
embryosac.
The embryo-sac is 4- nucleate
stage that develops from
tetrasporic Fritillaria type of
coenomegaspore.

26. Placentation superficial
Superficial or Laminar:
Here, the ovules develop over
the entire inner surface of the
carpels.
It occurs in multicarpellary
ovary, e.g., Nymphaea

27. Marginal
Placentation
Marginal:
Occurs in monocarpellary,
unilocular ovary.
The placenta develops and
ovules are borne along the
junction of the two margins
of the carpel e.g., Pea.

28. Parietal Placentation
Parietal:
The placenta is
formed by the swelling
up of cohering
margins, and on the
latter develop the
ovules in rows.
It occurs in
bicarpellary or
multicarpellary but
unilocular ovary, e.g.,
Papaveraceae.

29. Placentation Basal
Basal:
It occurs in bicarpellary or
multicarpellary but unilocular
ovary
The placenta develops directly on
the thalamus and bears a single
ovule at the base of the unilocular
ovary, e.g., Compositae.

30. Axile Placentation
Axile:
Here, the placentae develop from
the central axis which correspond
to the confluent margins of
carpels.
It occurs in bi- or multicarpellary
and multilocular ovary, e.g.,
Solanaceae, Malvaceae.

31. Free central
Placentation
Free-central:
Here, the placenta develop in
the centre of the ovary as a
prolongation of floral axis and
the ovules are attached on this
axis.
 It occurs in multicarpellary but
unilocular ovary, e.g.,
Primulaceae.
 it may also form by breaking
down of septa from axile
placentation e.g.,
Caryophyllaceae

32. Inflorescence L.S. Capitulum
Capitulum or Head:
In this type of inflorescence the main axis or receptacle
becomes suppressed, and almost flat, and the flowers
(also known as florets) are sessile (without stalk) so that
they become crowded together on the flat surface of the
receptacle.
The florets are arranged in a centripetal manner on the
receptacle, i.e., the outer flowers are older and open
earlier than the inner ones.
The individual flowers (florets) are bracteate. In addition
the whole inflorescence remains surrounded by a series
of bracts arranged in two or three whorls.
The flowers (florets) are usually of two kinds:
(i) Ray florets (marginal strap-shaped flowers) and
(ii) Disc florets (central tubular flowers).
A capitulum or head is characteristic of Asteraceae
(Compositae) family, e.g., sunflower (Helianthus
annuus), marigold (Tagetes indica), safflower
(Carthamus tinctorius). Zinnia, Cosmos, Tridax,
Vernonia, etc. Besides, it is also found in Acacia and
sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) of Mimosaceae family.

33. Inflorescence, L.S.
Hypanthodium
Hypanthodium:
 In this type of inflorescence the receptacle
forms a hollow cavity with an apical opening
guarded by scales. Here the flowers are borne
on the inner wall of the cavity.
 The flowers are unisexual; the female flowers
develop at the base of the cavity and the male
flowers towards the apical pore. The examples
are found in genus Ficus of Moraceae family,
e.g., Ficus carica, F. glomerata, F.
benghalensis, F. religiosa, etc.

34. Inflorescence
Cyathium
Cyathium:
This type of inflorescence is found in genus
Euphorbia of family Euphorbiaceae; also
found in genus Pedilanthus of the family.
In this inflorescence there is a cup-shaped
involucre, often provided with nectar
secreting glands.
The involucre encloses a single female
flower, represented by a pistil, in the centre,
situated on a long stalk.
This female flower remains surrounded by a
number of male flowers arranged
centrifugally.
Each male flower is reduced to a solitary
stalked stamen. It is evident that each
stamen is a single male flower from the
facts that it is articulated to a stalk and that
it possesses a scaly bract at the base.
The examples can be seen in poinsettia
(Euphorbia), Pedilanthus, etc.

35. Inflorescence
Verticilaster
Verticillaster:
 This type of inflorescence is a
condensed form of dichasial
(biparous) cyme with a cluster of
sessile or sub-sessile flowers in the
axil of a leaf, forming a false whorl
of flowers at the node.
 The first of main floral axis gives
rise to two lateral branches and
these branches and the succeeding
branches bear only one branch each
on alternate sides.
 The type of inflorescence is
characteristic of Lamiaceae
(Labiatae) family. Typical
examples, are—Ocimum, Coleus,
Mentha, Leucas, etc.

36. LS flower bud
Epigynous
An inferior ovary lies below the
attachment of other floral parts.
Flowers with inferior ovaries are
termed epigynous.
Some examples of flowers with an
inferior ovary are orchids (inferior
capsule),Fuchsia (inferior berry),
banana(inferior berry), Asteraceae
(inferior achene-like fruit, called
a cypsela) and the pepo of the squash,
melon and gourd (Cucurbitaceous)
family.

37. L.S. Flower bud: Hypogynous
 A superior ovary is an ovary
attached to the receptacle above the
attachment of other floral parts. A
superior ovary is found in types of
fleshy fruits such as true
berries, drupes, etc.
 A flower with this arrangement is
described as hypogynous.
Examples of this ovary type include
the legumes (beans and peas and
their relatives).

38. L.S. Flower bud:
Perigynous
A half-inferior ovary (also known as
“half-superior”, “subinferior,” or “partially
inferior,”) is embedded or surrounded by
the receptacle.
This occurs in flowers of
the Lythraceae family, which includes
the Crape Myrtles. Such flowers are
termed perigynous or half-epigynous.
In some classifications, half-inferior
ovaries are not recognized and are instead
grouped with either the superior or
inferior ovaries.
E.g. Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lythraceae ,
Papillionaceae.

39. Drosera
 it is an insectivorous plant, commonly
called sundew belonging to family
Droseraceae
Plant are herbaceous, rosette like and grow
in water logged places.
Mature leaves are mostly spoon shaped
and possess a large number of glandular
hair called tentacles, mostly on upper
surface.
Each tentacles is stalked, mucilage
secreting gland which is bright red in
colour.
The tip of gland secretes a sticky purple
juice which shine like a dew drop in
sunlight.
Insects are attracted to shining leaf surface

40. Utricularia
 it is an insectivorous plant, commonly
called bladder wort belonging to
family Utriculariaceae.
Plant are mostly aquatic, commonly
found in the Dal lake of Kashmir.
Plant body is free floating, rootless, much
branched shoot with dissected leaves.
Some of the leaf lobes are modified into
sensitive little sac like traps called
Bladder.
Each bladder is stalked, pear shaped,
hollow chamber which open by a small
opening gaurded by valve. The valve
opens inwardly.
Opening of bladder bears sensitive
filiform hairs.

41. Nepenthes
 It is an insectivorous plant, commonly
called pitcher plant belonging to family
Nepenthaceae.
The plant may be climbers or epiphytes.
The leaves are large with elongated tendril
like petiole and lamina modified into
pitchers.
The apex of leaf is modified into a small
and coloured lid which covers the opening
of the pitcher.
The attractive colour of lid and nectaries
present at the rim attract the insects.
The insect is destroyed by juice secreted by
digestive glands situated inside the upper
half of pitcher.

42. Dionaea
 it is an insectivorous plant,
commonly called venus fly trap
belonging to family Droseraceae
Plant is herb, which bear a rosette
of leaves.
The leaves are large which consist
of winged petioles.
The lamina of leaf is modified into
two toothed jaws.
The upper surface of each jaw
bears prongs called sensitive hairs
or bristles and irregularly
scattered digestive glands.
The insect is destroyed by juice
secreted by digestive glands.

43. Hydrilla plant
 It is the common submerged
hydrophyte that grow
suspended under water.
 Plant are perennial.
 The branched shoot is
attached to the substratum by
adventitous roots
 The stem is delicate, thin,
spongy and flexible.
 It has nodes and internodes.
 Plants parts are covered with
mucilage.

44. Pistia
 The plant is free floating
hydrophyte found in
ponds.
 The plants grow by means
of offset (stem which has
node and internode.
 A rosette of sessile leaves
arise in close spirals at each
node.
 Older leaves are spread
horizontally.
 A cluster of adventitous
roots arise from each node.
 The roots are devoid of root
caps instead they bear root
pockets

45. Lemna
 The plant are small free
floating hydrophyte found
in ponds and lakes.
 The plant body show no
distinction of stem and
leaves .
 It looks like thallus.
 Each plant bear a single,
unbranched, hairless
peltately attached root.
 It possess a smooth or
winged root pocket.

46. Salvinia
 The plant are small free
floating hydrophyte
belonging to pteridophyte.
 The upper surface of leaves
is well protected from
wetting by interlacing hairs.
 The plants grow in dense
masses which cause partial
shades.

47. Eichhornia
 The plant are free floating
water weeds, occur
abundantly in ponds, lake
and ditches.
 Plants grow by means of
spongy offsets, which show
nodes and internodes.
 Cluster of pinkish
adventitious roots arise
from each node.
 The roots acts as balancers.

48. Jussiaea
 The plant are free floating
hydrophytes.
 The stem is spongy and
grow over the surface of
water.
 It produce aerial leafy
shoots from the nodes.
 Two kind of roots
develops from the nodes-
ordinary anchorage roots
and modified floating
root.
 Root hairs are absent.
 The root caps are
elongated and form root
pockets.

49. Nymphaea
 The plant are floating
leaved anchored
hydrophytes mostly occur
in shallow water.
 The leaves float at the
surface whereas rhizome
is rooted in mud.
 The leaves posses long
cylindrical, flexible and
spongy petioles.
 The lamina is large,
peltate and show cordate
outline.
 Submerged parts are
coated with mucilage.

50. Cuscuta on host
 It is a total stem parasite Cuscuta
reflexa belonging to family
Convolvulaceae
 The parasite is very long, filamentous,
branched, non-chlorophyllous, pale
yellow in colour and bear scale leaves.
 It produce bunches of whitish or
yellowish bell shaped flowers.
 The parasite gets organic food,
minerals and water from the host
through some special absorbing
organs called haustoria.
 The haustoria are infact modified
adventitious roots which penetrate up
to the vascular tissue of host.

51. Root nodules
The root of leguminous plants bear large
number of small, granular, pink nodules
on their branches.
The nodules vary in size and shape.
The nodules are formed due to
penetrations of bacteria- Rhizobium
sp and resultant stimulation of cell
division in cortical cells.
The host plant supplies the nodule
bacteria with organic carbon and in
return the bacteria supplies usable
nitrogen to the host. Such association is
known as Symbiosis.
The invaded cells of nodules contain a
reddish pigment called
leghaemoglobin

52. Poppy fruit

53. Pome fruit

54. Berry- Tomato fruit

55. Pea fruit- pod

56. Coconut fruit-Drupe

57. Coraiander fruit

58. Cotton fruit

59. Phyllode- Ruscus

60. Phylloclade - Opuntia

61. Cladode -Asparagus

62. Phylloclade of Muehlenbeckia

63. Cucurbita tendril

64. Phyllode of Parkinsonia

65. Phyllode of Australian Acacia

66. Vitis tendril